Greta Josephy obituary

Besides working as a nurse and bringing up three children, Greta Josephy managed to find time to volunteer for Amnesty International

Our mother, Greta Josephy, who has died of lymphoma aged 70, worked in the casualty department of Middlesex hospital, on the renal unit at the Churchill hospital in Oxford and, for many years, as a district nurse in Oxford.

She was born Greta Bateman in Harrow, north-west London, the second of three daughters, and began her training as a nurse at the age of 18. She married Richard Josephy in 1967. While busy bringing up the three of us and continuing to nurse, Greta found the time to volunteer for Amnesty International. She retained a concern for social justice and a keen interest in politics throughout her life.

Greta's diagnosis with a rare form of lymphoma in 1999 was greeted with typical optimism and a lack of self-pity, and she and Richard set about making the most of whatever time was left. She took great satisfaction in sending her consultant a picture of herself at the top of Scafell Pike in Cumbria. She and Richard retired a few years later, and were able to add frequent trips to Italy to their regular itinerary of visits to their children, grandchildren and many friends. They also continued to enjoy family gatherings in Cornwall and the Lake District.

In retirement Greta commented that she did not know how she had ever found the time to work. She volunteered at local schools, continued her lifelong membership of choirs and, along with Richard, began growing fruit and vegetables.

Greta's defining characteristic was her concern for others. Many people had reason to be grateful for the unstinting practical and emotional support she provided in difficult times.

Some months before her death Greta was called for jury service and responded with characteristic enthusiasm, managing to complete her period of service despite a sudden deterioration in her health. Three days before her death she made the family's Christmas cake with similar determination – and loving assistance from her grandchildren Megan and Charlie.

Greta is survived by us and Richard, her sister Susie (Ruth, her younger sister, predeceased her), and her grandchildren, Megan, Charlie, Mabel, Vera and Ava.